BepiColombo's Journey to Mercury: Lessons from Cruise Operations and Plans for Orbital Science

The BepiColombo mission, a cornerstone of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Cosmic Vision program in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), represents an ambitious endeavor to deepen our understanding of Mercury. It uniquely combines the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) to investigate Mercury’s interaction with the solar wind, its geological history, and its magnetic environment. The mission seeks to address fundamental questions about the evolution of terrestrial planets, including Mercury’s formation, internal structure, and enigmatic magnetic field.

BepiColombo’s operational phase at Mercury will prioritize the implementation of a meticulously designed strategy to maximize the scientific potential of its complementary payload. The dual-spacecraft configuration enables synchronized observations of the planet’s surface, exosphere, and magnetosphere, offering unprecedented insights into the planet’s complex environment. Key mission strategies include utilizing the spacecraft’s elliptical orbits to optimize coverage during perihelion passes, supporting high-resolution investigations of regions of particular scientific interest, and facilitating comprehensive global mapping. These efforts aim to provide a holistic understanding of Mercury’s geological and magnetic properties, as well as its interactions with the solar wind, making significant contributions to planetary science.

This presentation will highlight the broader implications of BepiColombo’s mission design, the operational strategies planned for the science phase, and the valuable insights gained from its Venus and Mercury flybys. Particular focus will be placed on how these lessons refine the mission’s science objectives and influence future exploration initiatives targeting Mercury and other inner Solar System bodies.